Dichotomy Socks

(Picture forthcoming)

Gague: 8 sts = 1" on size 2.25mm DPNs in St stitch

Materials: Senso Cotton Wool (70% cotton/30% wool), 3 balls purple, 1 ball white (approx. $8 total)
Set of 4 or 5 2.25mm DPNs (I prefer 5, and this pattern is easier with 5)
Set of 4 or 5 2.0mm DPNs

Ribbing Pattern:
-IIII--II--II--II--II--II--II--IIII-

Twin Leaf Panel: (Barbara Walker's Second Treasury)
Row 1 and all odd rows: IIIIIIIIII--IIIIIIIIII
Row 2: IIIIIIMOIO--OIOWIIIIII
Row 4: IIIIMIOIOI--IOIOIWIIII
Row 6: IIMIIOIOII--IIOIOIIWII
Row 8: MIIIOIOIII--IIIOIOIIIW
Repeat rows 1-8

Abbreviations:
I: Knit
-: Purl
O: Yarn-over
M: Sl 1-k2tog-psso
W: "Ssk and pass", Barbara Walker describes this as "ssk, return the resulting stitch to left-hand needle, and with the point of the right-hand needle pass next stitch [on left needle] over and offthe needle; then sl the stitch back to the right-hand needle."



Conceptual Directions:

(in white) CO 72 sts in 2.0mm needles and work in Ribbing Pattern for 2". Switch to purple, and larger needles.

The p1 on either side of the ribbing pattern acts to hide the seam and create consistancy across the rows. Starting with the K4 area, the leg will go as follows:

Odd rows:
*P1 K4 P1 K24 P1 K4 P1; Repeat from * three more times.

Even rows:
*4 stitch cable (crossing on rows 4 and 8 of lace pattern), p1, k1, one row of the lace pattern, k1, p1, 4 stitch cable. Repeat from * once.

This will continue for 6"-ish, ending on row 1 of lace pattern.

Switch to white with out cutting the purple, and do your favorite heel, starting from the purl before the third cable. At the end of that half-row, your white thread should be next to your purple. turn it and keep going :) Minimum ends! When you're done turning the heel, leave the stitches on the needles and go back to the old start-of-round with the purple thread. This should be at the start of the instep.

Instep follows the same pattern of even and odd rows, only worked in half (no repeats on even rows, one repeat on odd rows. When you do the first instep half-row, pick up whatever stitches need picking up (along the heel flap if you did one, or just the stitches on the needle if you did a short row heel) and work them in purple with your favorite gussets or lack thereof worked in stockinette or favorite sole stitch along the bottom of the foot.

Complete for length of foot minus a few inches.

Switch to white, knit 1 round, then do your favorite toe.

Written-Out Directions:

Cuff:

(in white) CO 72 sts in 2.0mm needles and work in Ribbing Pattern for 2". Switch to purple, and larger needles.

Row 1 (and all odd rows): *P1, K4, P2, K10, P2, K10, P2, K4, P1; Repeat from *.
Row 2: *P1, K4, P2, K6, ssk and pass, yo, K1, yo, P2, yo, K1, yo, sl 1-K2tog-psso, K6, P2, K4, P1; Repeat from *.
Row 4: *P1, K4, P2, K4, ssk and pass, K1, yo, K1, yo, K1, P2, K1, yo, K1, yo, K1, sl 1-K2tog-psso, K4, P2, K4, P1; Repeat from *.
Row 6: *P1, K4, P2, K2, ssk and pass, K2, yo, K1, yo, K2, P2, K2, yo, K1, yo, K2, sl 1-K2tog-psso, K2, P2, K4, P1; Repeat from *.
Row 8: *P1, K4, P2, ssk and pass, K3, yo, K1, yo, K3, P2, K3, yo, K1, yo, K3, sl 1-K2tog-psso, P2, K4, P1; Repeat from *.

Repeat rows 1-8 until cuff measures around 6", end on row 1. Transfer the first 36 sts to stitch holder, or 1 needle.


Heel: (feel free to substitute your own favorite heel)

Do not cut the purple, but pick up the white yarn. Remember to leave a 6" tail. Starting from the second needle (or just after the stitch holder), work 1 row in Heel Stitch as follows: sl 1, *k1, sl1; repeat from * until you reach the end of the round (you should have worked half a round in white). You will only be working with these white stitches for the rest of the heel. Turn the work, purl across. Alternate rows of slipped regular stitches until the heel flap measures your preferred height. I tend to do 2.5 or 3", but I have big feet.

Turning the Heel:

I like to continue the heel stitch pattern in the turning of the heel, but it's not strictly neccessary. If you prefer, just turn the heel in Stockinette stitch, though you should continue to slip the first stitch in the row.

Row 1: Sl1, (k1, sl1) 11 times, k1 , k2tog, k1, turn.
Row 2: sl1, p13, p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 3: sl1, (k1, sl1) 7 times, k2tog, k1, turn.
Row 4: sl1, p15, p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 5: sl1, k1, (k1, sl1) 7 times, k1, k2tog, k1, turn.
Row 6: sl1, p17, p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 7: sl1, (k1, sl1) 9 times, k2tog, k1, turn.
Row 8: sl1, p19, p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 9: sl1, k1, (k1, sl1) 9 times, k1, k2tog, k1, turn.
Row 10: sl1, p21, p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 11: sl1, (k1, sl1) 11 times, k2tog. (please note, no k1 and turn)


Gusset:

Round 1:
Leave the heel stitches on the needle, and go back to the instep stitches and the start of round. Remove from stitch holder if neccessary, and place on single needle (this is now needle 1). With the purple (which should not have been cut, please recall), work row 2 of cuff, without the repeat, and on a new needle (needle 2) pick up gusset stitches on left side of heel flap, and knit the gusset stitches through the back loops (to avoid holes, pick up one extra stitch between instep and gusset). Knit across heel stitches (needle three), pick up right side of gusset stitches, including extra stitch (needle four) and knit through back loops. In order to make things a little more balanced, add the # of stitches on needles 2-4 together and divide by 3, then starting at needle 2, move stitches as needed so that that number of stitches is on each needle (if 1 stitch is left over, place on needle 3. If two stitches are left over, place on needles 2 and 4). If you would prefer, you may continue working the stitches of needle 3 in Heel Stitch until the gusset is complete.

Round 2: (and all even rounds)
Work the instep in Cuff row 1 excluding repeat. On needle 2, p1, k3, ssk, knit to end of needle. Continue in Stockinette st until last 5 sts on needle 4. k2tog, k3, p1.
Round 3:
Work the instep in next Cuff row excluding repeat. p1, knit to last st on needle 4, p1.

Repeat rows 2 and 3 until you have decreased back down to 72 stitches. Rearrange stitches on needles 2-4 when needed to maintain easy knitting. At the end, there should be 12 stitches each on needles 2, 3, and 4.


Foot:

Continue to work instep stitches in cuff pattern excluding repeats, and work needles 2-4 in Stockinette stitch. Continue until 2 or 3" from the ends of the toes, try to end on row 1.

Heel-Stitch Star Toe:

Switch to white, remember to leave long tail on both yarns.

Round 1 (and all odd rounds): Knit.
Round 2a: Knit needles 1 and 2. On needle 3, ssk, k4, place stitch marker. Starting from the marker, redistribute stitches so there are 19 stitches on the first needle from the marker, and 18 on the other needles. The row now begins at the bottom of the foot.

Round 2b: k1, sl1, k1, sl1, k2tog. There are now 70 stitches on the needles. *sl1, k1; repeat from * to last stitch, sl1.

Round 4: *k8, k2tog; Repeat from *
Round 5: *k7, k2tog; Repeat from *
Round 6: *k6, k2tog; Repeat from *
Round 7: *k5, k2tog; Repeat from *
Round 8: *k4, k2tog; Repeat from *
Round 9: *k3, k2tog; Repeat from *
Round 10: *k2, k2tog; Repeat from *
Round 11: *k1, k2tog; Repeat from *

14 stitches now remain. Graft toe and enjoy!